Implement hinge

ABSTRACT

A device for interconnecting a pair of units to position them selectively at different positions relative to each other. The hinge in either of its embodiments involves a pair of linkages having different lengths wherein one of the linkages extends between the two frame members on one side of the longitudinal center axis and the second linkage extends between the two frame members on the opposite side thereof with each of the linkages having different lengths. The frame members may be hollow and rectangular in cross-section allowing the linkages to be connected to the side walls of the frame members and one of the linkages may substantially enclose the other linkage and the ends of the frame members. Several hinges may be connected together in side by side relationship or end to end relationship allowing an infinite number of combinations and arrangements.

ilnited States ateitt Couser 51 Aug. 1, 1972 IMPLEMENT HINGE [22] Filed: Sept. 9, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 70,847

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 721,845, April 16, 1968, Pat. No. 3,545,033.

[52] 11.8. C1 ..16/163, 74/102 [51] Int. Cl. ..E05d 11/10 [58] Field of Search ...16/163, 164; 5/69, 68; 287/92;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,967,035 1/1961 Simons ..l6/163 2,154,970 4/1939 Briggs ..172/484 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman Attorney-Zarley, McKee & Thomte 5 7] ABSTRACT A device for interconnecting a pair of units to position them selectively at different positions relative to each other. The hinge in either of its embodiments involves a pair of linkages having different lengths wherein one of the linkages extends between the two frame members on one side of the longitudinal center axis and the second linkage extends between the two frame members on the opposite side thereof with each of the linkages having different lengths. The frame members may be hollow and rectangular in cross-section allowing the linkages to be connected to the side walls of the frame members and one of the linkages may substantially enclose the other linkage and the ends of the frame members. Several hinges may be connected together in side by side relationship or end to end rela tionship allowing an infinitenumber of combinations and arrangements.

14 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures IMPLEMENT HINGE This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants co-pending application, Ser. No. 721,845 filed Apr. 16, 1968 US. Pat. No. 3,545,033 entitled Implement Hinge.

- Industrial and farm machinery are becoming more complicated and accordingly require appropriate component parts such as the hinge of this invention for interconnecting component frame members such that they may be pivoted relative to each other to a desired position. Applicants hinge of this invention utilizes frame members rectangular in cross-section interconnected by linkages having different lengths on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the frame members and connected to the side walls of the frame members. The longer of the two linkages has a cross wall which substantially covers the other linkage and the adjacent frame member ends. A power cylinder or the like may be appropriately connected to one end of one frame member and to the other frame member remotely thereof or to the longer linkage and to the other frame member remotely of the hinge.

An infinite number of hinges may be interconnected together using common component parts such as the longer linkage member being the longer linkage member for two separate hinges each having their individual shorter linkage member interconnecting different frame members to a common frame member. A further example of a combination of hinges interconnected includes a first hinge and a second hinge inverted such that the outer frame members extend in parallel relationship and may be maintained in such a relationship by a pivotal guide member allowing the outer frame members to be offset from each other or extend in a common plane.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hinge of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the hinge of this invention operated by a hydraulic power cylinder;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the hinge in a pivoted position;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 but show an alternate connection between the hinge and the hydraulic power cylinder;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the hinge wherein the inner and shorter linkages are partially exposed;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the hinge in a pivoted position;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view showing the hinge pivoted in an alternate manner to that shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a pair of hinges interconnected in side by side relationship;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are longitudinally cross-sectional views showing in particular the adjacent frame ends having different configurations in each of the views to allow for pivoting action while being maintained in close proximity to each other;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are side elevational views similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 but showing a modified connection of the power cylinder to the hinge;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of a hinge arrangement including two hinges utilizing one common frame member and longer linkage member; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a pair of linkages interconnected through a frame member with oneof the linkages inverted relative to the other and the total assembly being adapted to pivot from a linear position to an offset parallel position.

The hinge of this invention is referred to in FIG. 1 generally by the reference numeral 10 and includes a pair of rectangular in cross-section framemembers l2 and 14 each of which have opposite side walls 16, 18 and top and bottom walls 20 and 22 respectively. As seen in FIG. 7, a pair of linkages 24 and 26 interconnect the frame members. 12 and 14. The longer linkage 24 includes cross pins 28'secured to the side walls 16 and 18 adjacent the bottom wall 22 and secure together linkage side walls 30 and 32. A cross wall 34 extends adjacent the top wall 20 of the frame members 12 and 14 and interconnect the linkage side walls 30 and 32 and substantially encloses or covers the smaller linkage 26 and the space between the adjacent ends 36 and 38 of the frame members 12 and 14 respectively.

The frame bottom wall 22 and side walls 16 and 18 at the inner ends 36 and 38 form upstanding post-like portions 40 to which the smaller linkage 26 is pivotally connected by pins 42. A smaller linkage 26 is on the opposite longitudinal center line from the pins 28 for the larger linkage 24 and includes downwardly extending side walls 44 interconnected by a cross wall 46. The inner ends 36 and 38 of the frame members 12 and 14 are appropriately rounded as seen in FIG. 7 to allow pivotal action as seen in FIG. 8 for example.

The hinge 10 may be mechanically powered in any number of different ways including using a hydraulic cylinder 52 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, coupled between the frame member 14 having a post 54 connected to the piston rod 56 with the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder being connected to a downwardly and rearwardly extending post 58 rigidly carried on the bottom wall 22 of the frame member 12. Thus it is seen that the frame members 12 and 14 may extend straight as seen in FIG. 2 or at 90 degrees to each other by operation of the cylinder 52 as seen in FIG. 3.

Another alternative for operating the hinge 10 is to mount an upstanding post 60 on the cross wall 34 of the linkage 24 and connect the cylinder 52 to this post 60 and remotely therefrom on the frame member 12 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 to obtain the same pivotal action as that illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is noted that the arrangement of the component parts when pivoted in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 corresponds to the relationship illustrated in FIG. 8 as compared to a different pivotal action seen in FIG. 9. It is seen that in FIG. 8 the linkage 26 is extending upwardly and the frame member 14 is above the frame member 12 while in FIG. 9 the hinging action is such that the linkage 26 is extending downwardly and the frame member 14 is overlapping the end of the frame member 12. While the frame members 12 and 14 assume generally the same degree relationship to each other they do it in a different manner due to the ability of the linkages 24 and 26 to pivot in either of the two manners illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Referring nowto FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, it is seen that the linkage 24A doubles as a linkage for two separate side by side hinges 10A. The linkage 24A includes oppositely disposed side walls 30A and 32A and a common center wall 70. The cross wall 34A interconnects the side walls 30A, 32A and 70 and the pins 28 extend through each of the frame members and adjacent linkage side walls.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, it is seen that the adjacent ends or posts portions 403 interconnected by the shorter linkage 26 have edges which meet along a diagonal line 72 and 74 in FIGS. 1 1 and 12 respectively, thus closing the space between the inner ends of the frame members 12 and 14 but restricting pivotal movement of the hinge to the position of FIG. 8 only since the ends would contact each other if the hinge was moved towards the position of FIG. 9.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 a further arrangement is shown for use .of a power cylinder 52 and the hinge 10B corresponds to the hinge 10 except that the side walls 32B have downwardly extending portions 78 which provide post-like structure for engagement by the hydraulic piston rod 56 connected thereto by a cross pin 80. It is thus seen that pivotal movement is possible similar to the movement indicated by the hinge in FIGS. 2 and 3.

' In FIGS. 15 and 16 a pair of hinges are interconnected and include frame members 12 and 14 connected to a common frame member 82 through a pair of shorter linkages 26C facing in opposite directions. A common longer linkage 24C isalso common to both outer frame members 12 and 14' and is connected to the common intermediate frame member 82 as well-as the outer frame members 12 and 14 by pins 84 in a common plane as seen in FIG. 15. It is noted that the shorter linkages 26C are on opposite sides of an imaginary longitudinal center line extending between the pivotal pins 84 of the longer linkage 24C and the pivotal pins 42 connecting the shorter linkage 26C to the frame members. Thus the pivot pins 42 for the smaller linkages 26C are laterally offset from the pivot pins 84 for the longer linkage 24C and this is true for all of the embodiments having a longer and shorter pair of linkages 24 and 26.

The arrangement in FIG. 17 utilizes a first hinge 10 connected to a frame 12 on one end and a second frame 14 common to a second hinge 10 in turn connected to a frame 90. It is seen that the hinge between the frame members 14 and 90 is inverted relative to the orientation of the hinge 10 connected between the members 14 and'12. The frame members 90 and 12 as seen in the solid lines of FIG. 17 are parallel to each other and as seen in the dash line position extend in a common plane- A brace or guide member 100 is pivotally connected to the frame member 12 and the frame member 90 such that it may pivot from the elongated dash line position to the pivoted spaced apart parallel position of the frame members 90 and 12 and maintain them in this solid line relationship as seen in FIG. 17. It is also seen that the ends of the frame members l2, l4and 90 have complementary shapes similar to those meeting along the line 74 in FIG. 12, thus permitting the hinge to pivot in one manner only as illustrated in FIG. 8 hereinabove previously discussed.

Thus in operation the appropriate hinge structure is selected and operated by an appropriate power means such as illustrated in the various embodiments of this invention which all involve the same common basic features. A long linkage 24 is pivotally connected to end to end frame members 12 and 14 along a line laterally spaced apart from the pivotal connection of a shorter linkage 26 also interconnecting the adjacent ends of the frame members 12 and 14. As seen in FIG. 7, for example, the inner ends 36 and 38 defined by the side walls 16 and 18 provide an upstanding post 40 to laterally space the linkage 26 from the pivotal axes of the linkage 24. v

I claim:

1. A hinge, comprising, a pair of frame members disposed end to end, an upstanding post on each of said frame members and each of said posts extending in the same direction, a linkage pivotally interconnecting said posts, a second linkage pivotally interconnecting said frame members, and 1 each of said frame members and said posts being further defined as including a pair of oppositely disposed interconnected side walls, said first and second linkages pivotally connected to said side walls in laterally spaced apart relationship. 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said frame members is further defined as being substantially hollow and rectangular in cross section and said opposite side walls being interconnected by oppositely disposed top and bottom walls.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said second linkage vis further defined as having oppositely disposed side walls interconnected by a cross wall means disposed adjacent said first linkage.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said side walls of said second linkage are further defined as being disposed outwardly of said frame member side walls and said cross wall is disposed outwardly of said. first linkage.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein said first linkage includes oppositely disposed sidewalls interconnected by a cross wall.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein said first linkage is substantially enclosed and covered by said frame members and the side walls and cross wall of said second linkage.

7. The structure of claim 3 wherein an extendable power means is pivotably connected to one of said frame members longitudinally outwardly of said hinge and the other end is pivotably connected to said cross wall.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein an extendable power means has its opposite ends connected to the inner end of one of said frame members and to the other frame member remote from its inner end.

9. The structure of claim 3 wherein said side walls of said second linkage includes portions extending in the opposite direction from said cross wall, said portions being adjacent one of said frame members and one end of an extendable power means is pivotably connected to said portions with the other end being pivotably connected to the other frame member.

member on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of said third frame member from the pivotal connection of said second first linkage to said third frame member.

1 l. The structure of claim 3 wherein a second hinge is pivotally connected to one of said frame members which is a common frame member for said second hinge and said second hinge being inverted relative to said first hinge whereby said first and second hinges interconnected through frame members can be moved from a first extended position to a second position with said common frame member extending at substantially right angles to said frame members connected at the opposite ends of each of said first and second hinges, which are substantially parallel to each other.

12. The structure of claim 11 wherein a guide arm is operatively pivotably connected to the inner end of said other frame member at one end and to the third frame member at the other end whereby in said first extended position said guide member extends parallel to said frame members and said hinges.

13. The structure of claim 1 wherein the distance between the pivotal axes of said second linkage is different than the distance between the pivotal axes of said first linkage.

14. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first and second linkages are further defined as having planes through their respective oppositely disposed pivotal axes which are different at all times. 

1. A hinge, comPrising, a pair of frame members disposed end to end, an upstanding post on each of said frame members and each of said posts extending in the same direction, a linkage pivotally interconnecting said posts, a second linkage pivotally interconnecting said frame members, and each of said frame members and said posts being further defined as including a pair of oppositely disposed interconnected side walls, said first and second linkages pivotally connected to said side walls in laterally spaced apart relationship.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said frame members is further defined as being substantially hollow and rectangular in cross section and said opposite side walls being interconnected by oppositely disposed top and bottom walls.
 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said second linkage is further defined as having oppositely disposed side walls interconnected by a cross wall means disposed adjacent said first linkage.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said side walls of said second linkage are further defined as being disposed outwardly of said frame member side walls and said cross wall is disposed outwardly of said first linkage.
 5. The structure of claim 3 wherein said first linkage includes oppositely disposed side walls interconnected by a cross wall.
 6. The structure of claim 4 wherein said first linkage is substantially enclosed and covered by said frame members and the side walls and cross wall of said second linkage.
 7. The structure of claim 3 wherein an extendable power means is pivotably connected to one of said frame members longitudinally outwardly of said hinge and the other end is pivotably connected to said cross wall.
 8. The structure of claim 1 wherein an extendable power means has its opposite ends connected to the inner end of one of said frame members and to the other frame member remote from its inner end.
 9. The structure of claim 3 wherein said side walls of said second linkage includes portions extending in the opposite direction from said cross wall, said portions being adjacent one of said frame members and one end of an extendable power means is pivotably connected to said portions with the other end being pivotably connected to the other frame member.
 10. The structure of claim 3 wherein a second hinge is pivotably connected to one of said frame members and includes a second first linkage pivotably connected to a post on a third frame member and to a post on the opposite end of one of said pair of frame members on the opposite side of the pivotal axes of said connection of said second linkage to said one frame member, said second linkage extending beyond said one frame member and is pivotably connected to said third frame member on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of said third frame member from the pivotal connection of said second first linkage to said third frame member.
 11. The structure of claim 3 wherein a second hinge is pivotally connected to one of said frame members which is a common frame member for said second hinge and said second hinge being inverted relative to said first hinge whereby said first and second hinges interconnected through frame members can be moved from a first extended position to a second position with said common frame member extending at substantially right angles to said frame members connected at the opposite ends of each of said first and second hinges, which are substantially parallel to each other.
 12. The structure of claim 11 wherein a guide arm is operatively pivotably connected to the inner end of said other frame member at one end and to the third frame member at the other end whereby in said first extended position said guide member extends parallel to said frame members and said hinges.
 13. The structure of claim 1 wherein the distance between the pivotal axes of said second linkage is different than the distance between the pivotal axes of said first linkage.
 14. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first and Second linkages are further defined as having planes through their respective oppositely disposed pivotal axes which are different at all times. 